Play DM the GM

[aracko]

Id Offer Chris Capuano and Weeks for Eric Bedard first of all. Then Id have a rotation of Sheets, Bedard, Yovanni, Suppan, and Manny Parra. Bill Hall moves to 2b full time.

 

I make Villanueva the closer or setup man with Turnbow getting one last chance.

 

Then I would look to move Dave Bush - the METS have been interested, I move Dave Bush to the Mets for Lastings Milledge. Milledge plays LF for the forseeable Future.

 

There still is a hole in CF, but I give Gabe Gross a shot and try like heck to acquire Rocco Baldelli - hoping that Claudio Vargas brings him back in return.

 

There are still some holes, but I need more time to fill them.

[dadofandrew]

Who is going to play the 120 games Baldelli will be DL'd?

[Tbadder]

I'd trade Hardy for Bedard.

[And That]

I'd trade Hardy for Kazmir, but the D-Rays wouldn't.

[aracko]

Well in my proposal above the Brewers are not adding that much in payroll - depending on Bedard - there would still be room to add some players.

 

As for who plays IF Baldelli gets hurt, well Tony Gwynn will have another year of improvement, and Gabe Gross I think should deserve a shot. If the Brewers dont have confidence in them, well then they should cut bait.

 

There would be plenty of depth in the OF should Baldelli go down, with Mench, Gwynn, Gross, Vinnie as bench players. Hart can play CF in a pinch and Mench or Vinnie would pick up the slack in the corners. I am sure that there will be other serviceable right handed bats that become available in the OF if your uncomfortable with Gross every day while Baldelli is out.

 

Your taking a gamble, but its a low priced gamble in Baldelli. He is a cheap player. You can afford a quality player behind him.

[dadofandrew]

Rocco is young and not healthy. To expect him to be healthy as he ages is just hoping rather than planning.

 

He's a good pickup for a team like PIT, at the bottom of the success cycle.

[Weirdos19]

1. Trade Sheets and Turnbow for Crawford and Wheeler

 

2. Re-sign Coco 3yr/33mil

 

3. Trade Bill Hall, Gabe Gross, and ZJ to Oakland for Gaudin or Harden

 

4. Trade Cappy, Gwynn and Escobar to Texas for Otsuka and Blalock

 

5. Sign Ron Mahay 3yr/ 12mil

 

6. Let Joe Dillon be utility player

 

Lineup:

 

1. Weeks 2B

2. Crawford LF

3. Braun RF/CF

4. Fielder 1B

5. Hart CF/RF

6. Blalock 3B

7. Estrada C

8. Hardy SS

 

Bench: Dillon, Counsell, Cirillo (FA), Rivera, Mench, FA OF

 

Starters: Gallardo, Harden/Gaudin, Suppan, Villy, Parra

 

Bullpen: Bush, Vargas, Shouse, Mahay, Otsuka, Wheeler, Cordero

[Robideaux]

Improve infield defense:

1. Move Braun to LF.

2. Move Weeks to CF.

3. Move Hall to 3B.

Trade TGJ, Vargas, and Gamel (maybe more, I can never guess on trade values) for Orioles 2B Brian Roberts

Improve Bullpen

Sign Gagne 3yr 18 mil

Sign Wood 2yr 10 mil

Trade Capuano & Turnbow to Rockies for RP Fuentes

Various & Sundry

Sign Bartolo Colon 1yr, 8mil (mutual option for second at 10mil)

Sign Bobby Kielty 1 yr, 1.5 mil (replaces Mench as the lefty killer at a reduced cost)

Sign Rod Barajas 1 yr, 2 mil

Fire Yost

 

Lineup:

 

Weeks CF

Roberts 2B

Braun LF

Fielder 1B

Hart RF

Hall 3B

Hardy SS

Estrada C

Bench:

Dillon UT

Gross OF

Counsell MI

Kielty OF

Barajas C

 

Pitching Staff:

Sheets

Gallardo

Villanueva

Suppan

Colon

 

Bullpen:

Fuentes CL

Gagne RP

Wood RP

Shouse Loogy

Parra (2007 Villanueva Role)

Bush RP

 

25th: Wise, Aquino, or somebody else who shines in Spring Training.

[yoshii8]

1. Trade Capuano and Wise to LAD for Andre Ethier.

2. Sign 1 or 2 FA Relievers. Hopefully Linebrink and Gagne.

3. Sign Ramon Castro 2 years 6 million.

4. Trade Tony Gwynn Jr. and prospect to Texas for Joaquin Benoit.

 

Lineup.

Weeks

Ethier

Braun

Fielder

Hart

Hall

Hardy

Estrada

 

Bench: Gross, Dillon, Castro, Rottino or Mench(5 million may be too much for bench guy) and Counsell.

 

1.Sheets

2.Gallardo

3.Suppan

4. Villanueva

5. Parra

 

Relievers: CL-Eric Gagne, Benoit, Linebrink, Turnbow, Shouse, Bush, Vargas.

[don1481]

I'm not quite understanding the Gagne-lovefest here... given his injury history plus his "issues" in BOS, is it really wise to try and get him in as a key component of a restructured bullpen? I'd say absolutely no to Gagne.

[recte44]

3. Trade Bill Hall, Gabe Gross, and ZJ to Oakland for Gaudin or Harden

Way too much for Gaudin. Harden, maybe, but given his injury history that scares me, too. That sounds like a better package to get Garland with. Durable starter with more upside than Suppan. We need durable, top of the rotation starters. You can shave a half run off his ERA with the switch to the NL, too.

[don1481]

We need durable, top of the rotation starters.

 

And IMO Garland's not one. Durable? You betcha. Top-of-rotation? About as much so as Jeff Suppan. And at $12 Million for next year, absolutely no way the Brewers get him without the Sox picking up a fair portion of that.

[ILuvDaBush]

I'd easily prefer Harden to Garland. Harden may have the injury history, but he also has a ceiling of Cy and is cheap and relatively young.

[Weirdos19]

3. Trade Bill Hall, Gabe Gross, and ZJ to Oakland for Gaudin or Harden

Way too much for Gaudin. Harden, maybe, but given his injury history that scares me, too. That sounds like a better package to get Garland with. Durable starter with more upside than Suppan. We need durable, top of the rotation starters. You can shave a half run off his ERA with the switch to the NL, too.

 

Actually, I meant Blanton. Got em mixed up.

[Robideaux]

You can shave a half run off his ERA with the switch to the NL, too.

The move to the NL and out of whatever they're calling comiskey these days should help, but as long as the Brewers infield includes Weeks at second, Braun at third, and Fielder at first any improvement would be tempered, if not completely negated.

 

Low strikeout groundball-inducing pitcher + bad infield defense = trouble

 

[Bernie Crewer]

Unless pigs fly and Coco would sign a 3 year deal you have to let him walk and take the picks. It hurts short term, but it is absolutely the right move long term. Let Linebrink walk and take the picks as well. He hardly endeared himself to the fans of Milwaukee and from some of his comments the feeling was mutual on his end. I think his peripherial stat's indicate he's in decline, so no sense investing in what would not be a candidate for closer and a real question mark in the 7th & 8th innings imo.

 

Sit tight with Sheets and Cappy. Starting pitching does not grow on trees...there value will always be decent. I don't think either was healthy, and although they struggle in that department I think the worst is over for Sheets health-wise and he will be on a mission next year in his walk year. You just cannot sell these guys at their low point imo.

 

Aggressively pursue Eric Gagne to close. He proved in Texas he was back...didn't handle the pressure cooker in Boston very well, but his stuff was there...command was not it seems. I don't think his value will ever be more in line for what the Brewers can afford, and also the opportunity to close should be enticing to him. I think his upside is tremendous and you don't have to mortgage the house most likely.

 

Give Gabe Gross the job in LF opening day and see what he can do! Platoon him occassionally with Super Joe Dillon, but give this kid a shot! If he falls on his face you can always obtain a vet. I just think his combination of good speed, good power, very good on base skills would translate well into the #2 spot in the order. He's proved to me that when given consistent at bats good things happen. He was our leadoff hitter for a good patch last year, but he's always been an odd man out with his playing time. With Mench and Jenks finally removed it is time to see what we have. If he doesn't pan out you go get a vet (Lofton, Winn, etc.) to fill the hole.

 

Here is what I have on opening day:

 

Weeks 2b

Gross LF

Braun 3b

Prince 1b

Hart RF

Hardy SS

Hall CF

Barrett (FA)

 

Bench:

Super Joe Dillon

TGJ

Council

Cliff Floyd (FA acquisition)

Rotino

 

Rotation:

Sheets

Gallardo

Suppan

Capuano

Villenuava

 

BP:

Gagne (FA closer)

Turnbow

Trade for RP (Estrada & Vargas)

Bush

Shouse

McClung

Parra

[TooLiveBrew]

Mench shouldn't be "removed," he should be retained. See his line v. LHP in '07 & '05-'07. Otherwise I agree.

 

I think [Linebrink's] peripherial stat's indicate he's in decline, so no sense investing in what would not be a candidate for closer and a real question mark in the 7th & 8th innings imo.

 

While I don't disagree that he's not the ideal pick for bullpen stopper, Linebrink is hardly crap (not your word, I know) & would be a good idea for the Crew to retain. Add another RP to "close", sure, but I think we should keep Linebrink as the cheaper 'pen option.

 

Welcome, Berne Crewer, I dig the name!

[Fatter than Joey]

Robideaux is my hereaux.

[don1481]

Aggressively pursue Eric Gagne to close. He proved in Texas he was back...didn't handle the pressure cooker in Boston very well, but his stuff was there...command was not it seems.

 

First, welcome Bernie Crewer! For the most part I agree with your comments, except the quoted area above. Pursuing Gagne to close - especially given his injury history - is a risky proposition for a team that doesn't have much margin for error in the "spending" department. As Peavey pointed out, two TJ surgeries plus major back surgery equals big risk.

 

So let's say that the Brewers sign Gagne and he gets hurt. Since the Brewers probably invested quite a bit in Gagne to sign him (see some of the #'s thrown around in this thread), they don't necessarily have the financial leverage to go out and acquire a suitable replacement. So who closes? Turnbow? I just threw up a little in my mouth thinking about that.

 

Looking through your acquisitions... with Barrett being a Type A FA (per ESPN.com's FA rankings), are the Brewers willing to forfeit their first rounder (even if they land firsts from Linebrink and CoCo's departures) in order to do this? How much would it probably cost to sign Barrett?

[Fatter than Joey]

are the Brewers willing to forfeit their first rounder (even if they land firsts from Linebrink and CoCo's departures)

 

In all likelihood -- the Brewers 1st rounder is going to be their best pick (#16) -- with teams like Houston in the mix -- CoCo and Linebrink

may only net us #2s

[brosto1]

I would make three trades and not spend a dime on this year's free agent class.

 

1. Trade Vargas or Bush to Seattle for Raul Ibanez. Ibanez will hit second in the lineup. Seattle is actively in pursuit of a pitcher and I think Vargas might do well pitching in Safeco.

 

2. Trade Tony Gwynn, Jr and a low level prospect to Florida for Matt Lindstrom and Alfredo Amezaga. Flordia needs a CF and they have a bunch of arms in their pen that I like from Lindstrom, Gregg, Pinto, Tankersley, Kensing, and H Garcia with more arms in their system.

 

3. A three team deal involving Cleveland, Arizona, and Milwaukee.

-Brewers get Tony Pena, Kelly Shoppach, and Aaron Laffey or Scott Lewis for Capuano or Bush, Turnbow, and Gross.

-Indinas get Gross, Carlos Quentin, and Turnbow for Chuck Lofgren, Aaron Laffey or Scott Lewis, and Kelly Shoppach( If Quentin's non-throwing shoulder is an issue work C Gonzalez into the deal)

-DBacks get Capuano or Bush and Chuck Lofgren for Pena and Quentin(Or alter the package around Gonzalez if shoulder is too much of an issue.)

 

The Indians need a corner OF and also might want to add someone who might be able to close for them if Borowski comes back to reality. I think Turnbow would be of great interest to them. Quentin's luster may have come off a bit, but I still think he has quite a bit of value.

 

The DBacks are looking for some starting pitching, they have depth in their pen and OF. They get a starter for the coming year in Bush or Capuano and they get another good prospect in Lofgren who might be ready sometime in 2008.

 

The Brewers get a good receiver with good power, but little on base skills. They also get Pena who I think would be their closer. I would insist on getting another upper level pitching prospect in return. Laffey is a groundball machine who Cleveland could afford to trade with a deep rotation and Adam Miller still waiting in the wings at AAA.

 

Lineup

2B-Weeks

LF-Ibanez

3B-Braun

1B-Prince

RF-Hart

CF-Hall

SS-Hardy

C-Shoppach

 

Bench:

Amezaga, Mench, Counsell, Dillon, Rivera

 

Starters:

Sheets

Gallardo

Suppan

Villanueva

Bush

 

Pen:

Pena-Closer Option A

Lindstrom-Option B

McLung

Shouse

Stetter

Parra

Wise

 

I would also pick up a few veteran relievers to minor league deals. I also wouldn't mind adding a lefty bat for the bench that would provide more pop than Amezaga or Counsell.

The pen is lacking in experience, but there are some very good young power arms in Pena, Lindstrom, and McLung.

[sweepscc]

A couple months back there was a "Offseason To-Do List" thread that I contributed to. Thought I'd re-paste it here with some modifications. (although it seems pretty apparent we aren't going to go after Hunter)

 

 

1) Resign Nedly

 

2) Trade Bill Hall, Kevin Mench, Derrick Turnbow, Claudio Vargas, and Chris Capuano to Royals for: Jimmy Gobble, Joakim Soria and Gil Meche

 

3)Resign Coco

 

4)Sign Torii Hunter and Doug Brocail

 

5) Trade Dave Bush and Matt Gamel to Mariners for Kenji Johjima

 

Rotation:

Sheets

Gallardo

Meche

Villanueva

Suppan

 

 

 

Bullpen:

Coco

Gobble

Soria

Parra

Brocail

Shouse

 

Lineup:

Weeks

Hunter

Braun

Fielder

Hart

Johjima

Hardy

Gross/Dillon

[Tbadder]

I like Shoppach quite a bit, but hear the Indians really don't want to deal him. After picking up Munson, I don't think the Crew will do anything here except watch Miller walk.

[dadofandrew]

I just don't see Ibanez anything but a slight bump up from Gross, and Raul is far from a good defensive player, at this stage at least. Raul has a better SLG, but considering his age, defense, and salary, one could argue Gross (and a Dillon type) would be just as effective.

[Weirdos19]

I just don't see Ibanez anything but a slight bump up from Gross, and Raul is far from a good defensive player, at this stage at least. Raul has a better SLG, but considering his age, defense, and salary, one could argue Gross (and a Dillon type) would be just as effective.

 

Not to pick, but I disagree. That park is pretty big in Seattle, and the lineup (outside of Ichiro) stinks. to put up the number Ibanez has is pretty impressive. A big step up from any LHH outfielder we've had in a few years.

 

Plus, any LHH outfielder we acquire puts Nix farther down the depth chart!http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif